NORTH Manchester Chamber of Commerce is joining forces with other Greater Manchester groups to consider an appeal against the decision to withdraw funding for the extension of Metrolink.

David Peacock, the Chamber chief executive, said: "The decision to cancel phase three Metrolink extensions comes as a bitter blow to the businesses and communities of Rochdale and Oldham."

"It defies logic that 10 years following parliamentary consent for the extensions the funding is to be cancelled."

"Decisions have been made on the basis of having this system in place and the money already spent appears to have been written off."

"The people of Rochdale and Oldham will be justifiably questioning in which direction this promised money has been redirected."

At the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Angie Robinson, said: "The business community is up in arms. I don't particularly like going on about the North-South divide, but it seems like the South East is going to gain from our losses, with the London Crossrail project costing £10 billion."

"Public transport is crucial to supporting the region's productivity."